Website Usability

Scripts & Questions

Original Question for Student

1 . Let's assume your professor has asked you to find some resources such as books or journal articles for a paper you've been assigned. Using the library website, how would you begin?

User's response comments:

"I usually use eJournal Locator and Databases for online journals." Student clicked on eJournal Locator.

For books “it took me a while to figure it out”
Usually uses the telnet computers. The student clicked on the BOOKS tab.

Observer's comments: Typed “Journal of personality” in the eJournal locator, followed the link, and then started searching in the Wiley Interscience database for “Neuroticism.”  “Usually want just recent years” – found a relevant article

This student had a specific journal recommendation from her professor. She was successful in finding an article but she bypassed our databases completely

Successful: somewhat (yes)

Original Question for Student

2.   Using the library website, can you tell if the library has any books written by Al Gore?

Observer's comments: clicked on the BOOKS tab, selected the author radio button and searched for “al gore” -scrolled through the list- switched to the keyword radio button- and found books by Al Gore.

Used a clever workaround to make up for the failure of the catalog to adapt when authors are entered as “first name last name“

Successful: yes

3.  Using the library website, can you find the Journal of the North Atlantic online?

Observer's comments: clicked on the eJournal Locator, typed “journal of the north atlantic” and found the journal.

Successful: yes

4. Using the library website, can you find a print or hard copy edition of the Journal of marriage and the family?

Observers comments: clicked on the BOOKS tab- selected the keyword radio button - searched for the “journal of marriage and the family” and found it.

Successful: yes

5. Using the library website, how do you find books on reserve for a particular class?

Observers comments: scanning the menu bar dropdowns - clicked on the "How To"  and found the  "find course reserves"  link.

Successful: yes

6. Using the library website, how do you renew a book that's almost overdue?

Observers comments: went directly to the "How To" dropdown- clicked the "renew your books" link.

Successful: yes

7. Using the library website, how would you find a journal article about stem cells?

Observers comments: clicked on the eJournal Locator- typed “stem cells”- found journals with "stem cells" in the title

Users's response/comments: In response to the Follow up question: "Is there a better way for us to label that (articles tab)?  Stated that she might have used the article search box if we asked her to “find articles.”

Successful: yes

8. Can you find the home page for the Science & Engineering Library?

Observers comments: clicked immediately on the Libraries dropdown -then clicked on Science and Engineering Library."

Successful: yes